Maintaining your online reputation is crucial no matter how long you’ve been in business. Modern consumers have more access to information through social media than ever before. They also quickly let other consumers know what they think of a product or service. A bad review can kill your business if you ignore how your customers feel about your company, so learn how to protect your business’s online reputation by following these five tips!
1. Work with an Experienced Online Reputation Management Company
Managing your online reputation can be difficult if you don’t know where to start. One of the best ways to protect your business is by partnering with an experienced, knowledgeable, and trustworthy digital marketing company. They can help you monitor, manage, and maintain your business’s online reputation for a fraction of the cost you would incur in-house. The key to success is knowing what good looks like. Start by defining what suitable means for your business, then ensure everything aligns with this definition.
A professional will help your business develop a proven plan that keeps you on track. An online reputation management expert will create an audit report from data gathered from social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google+, etc., providing insight into how your brand is perceived online. Second, they’ll use information gathered from the audit report to develop a strategy on how best to promote positive messages about your brand while minimizing negative ones.
2. Respond Quickly to Negative Reviews and Comments
When you receive a negative review or comment, it can be tempting to ignore it. But responding quickly and professionally can help mitigate the damage. Thank the reviewer for their feedback, apologize for their bad experience, and offer to make things right. Then, take action to improve your business so that future customers have a better experience. However, it doesn’t work every time.
You may not be able to avoid negative reviews, but you should do what you can to respond quickly and with empathy. For example, an apology is not enough if customers are unhappy with the service they received because they didn’t understand how your product works. Instead, try educating them on using your product by including an instructional video on your website or sending them helpful tips in email or other suitable means. You can even create content that meets your customers’ needs, say a demo on social media.
3. Set up Google Alerts
Google Alerts is a free service that will send you an email whenever people mention your business online. That is a great way to keep track of what people say about your business and jump in when necessary. You can make sure you have someone else manage your social media: It can be tempting to try and take care of everything on your own, but social media takes up so much time these days.
A virtual assistant can help run your social media channels, post updates, handle customer service, and more without taking away from the core services you provide. Alerts will let you know if complaints or negative reviews appear, allowing you to respond accordingly. If someone posts something negative on your Facebook page, they may not want to engage; probably, all they want is a quick and efficient solution.
4. Don’t Feed the Trolls
When someone leaves a negative comment on your blog post or social media profile, it can be tempting to respond in kind. But resist the urge! Getting into a flame war with an online troll will only make you look bad and damage your business’s reputation. Remember that every comment is public information, so provide a solution if possible and move on.
However, if the comments are sensitive, it’s crucial to call in an expert in online reputation management to help you handle the situation fast. Some intentional negative comments, reviews, or content can pull your business down. A professional knows how to spot them before they have a chance to do any damage.
5. Maintain a Professional Online Presence
Maintaining a professional online presence is a big part of managing your business’s online reputation. That means having an up-to-date and informative website, being active on social media, and monitoring what people say about your business online. Providing professional responses and knowing when to respond publicly or privately will help you manage negative and positive feedback.
Professionalism also entails investing in the best technology. The internet has evolved over the years, but so have cybercriminals. To keep your online presence professional also requires you to protect your business from attacks. Make sure you invest in the best technology to detect threats before they happen.
6. Have an Authentic Brand
Your customers should know what your brand is and what it stands for. Be authentic, and don’t try to be something you’re not. If you’re not sure what your brand is, take some time to figure it out before you start promoting it online.
Conclusion
Whether you’re just starting or you’ve been in business for a while, it’s vital to protect your online reputation. Protecting your business’s reputation is essential to having a successful business. But if you want to do this effectively, you must ensure that all the work you put into your brand is authentic and honest. If not, people will find out and see right through the facade. However, finding a reputable online reputation management company to help you is an excellent way to get started.